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Always the last one picked for kickball? Never get invites to the hottest parties? Blame Mom and Dad.

That's right, a new study says genes may influence whether or not you're popular. But DNA, or genetic material, shapes more than popularity, according to the research published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It may also play a role in the number of friends we have—and whether we're integral or insignificant members of a social group.   

Researchers from Harvard University and the University of California, San Diego, found that genes may be responsible for 46 percent of the variation (or difference) in how popular we are versus other people. Genetics exerts a similar effect on people's varying degrees of connectivity (for example, one person might know many of their friends' pals, but another person may not know any of their friends' other buddies.) And DNA has a significant, but lesser influence, on the difference between where one or another of us is located in a social network.

The scientists based their findings on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill of the influence of health on the social behavior of some 90,000 teens who researchers have been following since 1994. Using information on 552 pairs of twins in the study, the Harvard and U.C. San Diego researchers compared the lists of friends of identical twins with the social circles of same-sex fraternal twins. The networks described by the identical twins resembled one another more than those of the same-sex fraternal twins, suggesting a genetic influence on how people network socially. Twin study designs presume that if identical twins resemble each other more on some trait than fraternal twins do, then genes help explain that trait.

"Your social position in a network is not purely of your own making," study co-author Nicholas Christakis, a professor of sociology at Harvard University, tells ScientificAmerican.com. "In a very deep sense, our social life is predestined. It's predestined genetically.

"It's not the only explanation," he adds. "But there is a discernible and substantial role of genes in your social network position."

The study didn’t sort out which genes are enhancing or ruining our social lives. Michigan State University research published last year showed that a mutation in the serotonin receptor gene 5-HT2A was linked to variation in popularity. (Serotonin is a brain chemical that regulates mood, anxiety, depression, sleep and sexuality.) The new study examines the genetics of popularity with a wider lens, examining how much DNA may shape the way we socialize.

There may be evolutionary reasons for the variations in our social connectedness, Christakis says. While it may be advantageous to be in the center of a group when rumors are circulating, he says, you're better off being on its fringes if a disease—not gossip—is spreading. But the study didn’t explore who might benefit from being popular—and who may be lucky to be on the outs.

"We're a social species. We shouldn’t be surprised that some aspects of how we're social depends on genetics," Christakis says. "Just like other aspects of your personality of how assertive you are, how risk-averse you are, so does your predilection for having particular kinds of social network architectures" depend on genetics.

Image © iStockphoto/Andrew Johnson

6 Comments

1. 1. Patrick 027 07:00 PM 1/26/09

   Not to discount any genetic explanation, but I wonder if identical twins might be more likely to get roped into their twin's social network simply by a higher incidence of mistaken identity or a need on the part of others to be aware of the existence of the twin to avoid confusion?

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2. 2. ImproperUsername 12:28 PM 1/27/09

   As a lifelong introvert, it has always seemed to me that most other human beings possess some kind of mysterious connection to each other that I lack. As a school child, I found myself at the bottom of the totem pole, and the object of senseless persecution by my peers. All I wanted was to be left alone, but some of the other children would seek me out to torment me.
   
   Fortunately, social skills can be improved through practice and as an adult, in some situations, one might mistake me to be an extrovert! However, my son seems to have inherited my basic nature, and had to endure in school some of the same kind of persecution that I was subjected to. For him, homeschooling was the solution, and he matured into a successful adult.
   
   I've noticed that he and I tend to be quite mystified by a number of behaviors that other human beings tend to perform in a knee-jerk manner; things such as jumping up and down and screaming with a crowd, and so on.
   
   The article states, "But the study didn’t explore who might benefit from being popular — and who may be lucky to be on the outs." That's easy to answer. ;) We're the ones who DON'T get trampled to death at the soccer game!

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3. 3. ZenaV 05:37 PM 1/27/09

   A-yup. My genes are made by Wrangler.

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4. 4. a_nepali 07:29 PM 1/27/09

   It was definitely an interesting read. The proposition that genetics can help explain the level of popularity is pretty appealing. But I think, as in most other issues, a holistic approach would be to acknowledge "Nature", while also not forgetting the "Nurture" aspect. Because what we are dealing here is not just brains but minds. And genetics is hardly adequate in explaining the latter.
   I remember the days when I was in school. I had a great buddy with whom I used to spend most of my time together. Interestingly, it was he who was more popular, not only among girls but also among teachers. I say this is interesting because I was the one who was much better in studies, and even in extracurricular activities. Even at that time, I used to wonder what made him click with everyone else even when I was the one who should have been in his position. Coming to think of it, I guess it was his looks. He was much more good-looking, charming and pleasing to the eyes as compared to me. Even teachers used to say that they would love to see their daughters going after him,jokingly, of course. But that to me showed the power of looks.
   Of course, it is genetics that is most responsible for your looks. Guess that is a vindication of the thrust of this article, albeit in a roundabout way!

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5. 5. The Cod God 09:30 AM 1/29/09

   This shit is lame

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6. 6. The Cod God 09:31 AM 1/29/09

   This shit is lame

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